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DO'S AND DON'TS

                      

The service arrangement offered by the manufacturer must be maintained. It is very important that aerobic units receive regular maintenance. Although aerobic systems are more sophisticated than standard ones, they still need routine maintenance in order to function at their peak.   

1)  DO contract with a Licensed Provider.  It is required in the counties of Hood, Somervell and Erath.
2)  DO keep your system accessible for inspections and pumping.
3)  DO call your provider whenever you experience problems with your system; when the alarm is activated, excessive odor, or whenever there are any signs of system failure.
4)  DO keep detailed records about your aerobic system, including a map of its location and general information; make, model, capacity, license, date installed, contract service agreement, records of inspections provided by your Provider and any repairs performed. 
5)  DO conserve water to avoid overloading the system. Be sure to repair any leaky faucets or toilets.
6)  DO divert other sources of water.
7)  DO become familiar with how your system operates;  the way it looks, sounds and smells when it is working correctly. This way, you may be able to identify problems before they become serious.  Alert your Provider of anything unusual.
8)  DO be sure to ask your Provider questions about your system.  Coleman Aerobic provides homeowner a system 101 when requested. 
9)  DO use ant killer if they start mounding at any part of the system. Ants gravitate towards electrical componients.

10)  DO check your chlorinator once a week to once a month on average (depending on your water usage).  Add if necessary.
11)  DO make sure all parts of the system are easily accessible at all times.  Do not build over any part of the system and keep landscaping to a minimum.
12)  DO pump your system when recommended by your Provider.  
13) DO
 Call your provider when problems occurs.  
 
1)  DON'T allow anyone to drive over or park on any part of the system.
2)  DON'T make or allow alterations to your aerobic system without obtaining the required health department permit. Only use a licensed maintenance provider.
3)  DON'T use your toilet as a trash can.  Do not poison your system and groundwater by pouring harmful chemicals and cleansers down the toilet or drain. Harsh chemicals can kill the beneficial bacteria that treats the wastewater.
4)  DON'T attempt to clean or perform maintenance on any sealed aerobic unit components. 
5)  DON’T allow plumbers, landscapers, irrigation companies, etc. to do any repairs on your system.  Repairs made by the homeowner or others generally voids the system’s warranty and will make future repairs more costly.
6)  DON’T landscape around spray heads. Keep vegetation mowed or trimmed around the heads.  
7)  DON’T turn the system off .  If you do, make certain to turn it back on. 

8) DON’T store chlorine in water heater closets.  Keep chlorine away from gas and electrical components. Chlorine needs to be stored in a cool, dry, well ventilated area.  Chlorine will rust tools, metal building, etc. 
9)
DON' T use swimming pool chlorine tablets as a disinfectant. The chlorine in these tablets are made from trichloroisocyanuric acid. Swimming pool tablets dissolve more slowly than calcium hypochlorite and does not thoroughly disinfect the effluent.  Additionally, there is a danger of explosion using swimming pool tablets since the tablets will release an explosive gas called nitrogen chloride.  Furthermore, they are not approved by EPA for wastewater effluent disinfection.  (This happened to one of our customers who used pool tablets.  His system, in essence, blew up resulting in costly repairs.)  Some systems have liquid chlorinators designed for the use of bleach.  
10)  DON'T flush recreational drugs, over the counter medicines or prescription medicines down the drain or toilet. While this is not a new topic, there has been a growing detection of pharmaceuticals (birth control pills, anti-depressants, painkillers, etc.) in rivers, lakes, streams, and ground water, including drinking water.  Many medications can kill off the microorganisms living in the aerobic unit that are essential for proper treatment of sewage.   
11)  DON’T treat the system as a city sewer. Limit the amount of water going into the system.  
12)  DON'T use drain cleaners or other chemicals.  If you do, use half the recommended amount one day and the other half the following day.  Chemicals will kill the beneficial bacteria.  Allow the system to do it's thing.
13)  DON'T flush: coffee grounds, dental floss, disposable diapers, kitty litter, sanitary napkins, tampons, cigarette butts, condoms, fat, grease, or oil, paper towels, hazardous chemicals, (paints, varnishes, thinners, waste oils, pesticides). These items can quickly fill your aerobic treatment unit with solids that cannot be treated, resulting in a clogged pump filter and a call to a pumping company. 
14)  DON'T use in-sink garbage grinders excessively or discard too much grease. Garbage grinders can cause sludge or scum to build up rapidly, making it necessary to pump the septic system more frequently and possibly cause the system to malfunction because the wastewater is too strong for the system to handle.

15)  DON'T  do laundry all in one day.  Stagger laundry throughout the week.  Ideally, one or two loads per day.                                                                                

Do's and Don'ts
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